It’s called Lidris and it’s a robot developed by the Suntory Global Innovation Center, capable of drawing three-dimensional illustrations directly inside a liquid. Like a 3D printer, but immersed in water, Lidris uses a six-axis robotic arm to inject colored pigments with millimetric precision, creating suspended figures that remain stable over time. But let’s take a closer look.

The result is that of a floating drawing, which appears to magically hover in the void, visible from every angle and able to maintain its shape even with slight movements of the container.

Unlike traditional 3D printing, which builds solid objects layer by layer, Lidris operates in the fragile balance of fluid dynamics, turning liquid physics into a means of expression. It’s a performance that blends engineering, art, and visual perception, opening new possibilities for interaction between humans, machines, and matter.

Lidris is about the size of a small coffee machine and can easily be installed on a surface of around 50×50 cm, powered by a standard electrical outlet. It’s designed to be intuitive and easy to use—so much so that it can even be operated by non-specialized staff. The robot uses natural and edible pigments, such as lycopene extracted from tomatoes, ensuring safety and sustainability in material use. But the most surprising feature is the stability of its illustrations: once created, the suspended shapes remain visible for over an hour, without deforming even with slight movements of the container.

Presented at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Lidris doesn’t just amaze—it redefines the very concept of drawing, bringing it into an unstable, temporary, and even—if you will—captivating dimension. Who would’ve thought we’d be able to draw inside water?